Paula Deen makes special delivery to United Way Community Food Bank (with video)

Paula Deen and her husband, Michael Groover, left, take hams out of a truck to donate to the United Way Community Food Bank today in Birmingham. (Birmingham News/Linda Stelter)The United Way Community Food Bank, which serves more than 200 shelters, pantries and social service organizations in eight counties, this morning took delivery of a truckload of donated meat and got a helping hand from celebrity cook Paula Deen.

Smithfield Foods Inc., a Virginia meat processing company, donated the equivalent of 150,000 servings of ham, sausage, bacon and other pork products to the food bank, which has seen demand spike because of the sour economy.

Deen, who hosts cooking shows on the Food Network and is the name behind a cooking magazine published by Birmingham-based Hoffman Media, is a spokeswoman for Smithfield.

Deen and food bank officials said demand is at a record high, and called on businesses and individuals in the community to donate.

"You don't have to bring in 150,000 servings," Deen said. "Just bring in what you can spare."

Southern Family Markets, which operates Bruno's and Food World markets, and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union joined Smithfield officials and Deen in making the donation.

Larry Logan, head of the food bank, said the organization distributed 7.8 million pounds of food last year, up from 5.7 million pounds in 2008.

More middle-class families are coming to food bank clients for assistance, including many working families that still need help.